November 15, 2012

Wee C Dollhouse Miniatures Displays - 4

More pix of the miniature displays at the Wee C Dollhouse Show in Elk Grove Village, IL. (** Click pix for larger images.)
                                    * Back: Day 1 -  Day 3  -Next, Last: Day 5 *


More store ideas:

A partial building in an L shape is a neat idea to make for a room scene  as it's small but you can still get a lot of detail in.

Italian restaurant:



Southwest style room - like the tiles


Southwest room - interior


Log cabin


Seashell shop:

Fun idea! Love the boat shaped shelves






Pix: Christine Verstraete - (I'll be glad to post your name and web link if I've included pix of your  project)

November 14, 2012

Wee C Dollhouse Miniature Displays - 3


More dollhouse displays from the Wee C Dollhouse show in Elk Grove Village, IL. (** Click pix for larger image.**) Back: Day 1  - Next: Day 4


Great store ideas: 

Danish bakery in a bread box. The bread box sides are painted with the same flowers as on top. Look at all that bread. Love the colors and details!





Really neat diner...


Quilt shop:

Cool exterior has fabric scraps on top and leaf punches embedded in plaster on sides

 Sea captain's shop




Pix: Christine Verstraete - (I'll be glad to post your name and web link if I've included pix of your  project)

November 13, 2012

Wee C Dollhouse Miniature Displays - 2

Here's another set of photos showing the fantastic displays at the Wee C Dollhouse Show in Elk Grove Village, IL.  (** You can click pix to see them larger. ** )

                                             (Go back to Day 1 - Next: Day 3)

Container rooms: 
This room won 2nd place in the display contest. Club members had to make a room in a different kind of container. Love this idea! She found one of those storage boxes that had a scene on front and turned it into the perfect little shop!




 Half scale set in smaller plastic paint can (I just saw these in Target in the dollar section; they are pretty small)


Cauldron room:


Pirates of the Caribbean scene: This was amazing and huge. About 3-feet long but it was hard to photograph so didn't get an outside pic. Best I could do as the insides were dark. All carved stone outside and tons of pirates etc. inside. First place winner. 







Pix: Christine Verstraete - (I'll be glad to post your name and web link if I've included pix of your  project)

November 12, 2012

Wee C Dollhouse Show Miniature Displays - 1

Had a fun time this past weekend at the Wee C Dollhouse show in Elk Grove Village, IL. One of the best things about this show is the display room - fantastic displays!  I'll share some of the pix of the many projects displayed during the next few days, so be sure to check back. (Sorry I should've used flash on some and didn't.)  ** You can click pix to see them larger. **

A Bakery interior...





This was neat - a club project - tiny items and rooms inside papier mache cupcakes...



Nice detailed pantry....

Cute idea! Watermelon theme kitchen in corner room.




Another cute club project idea  - winter scenes in papier mache boxes topped with stuffed toy snowmen.

* Don't forget to stop back for the next set of pix! - Go to Day 2

Pix: Christine Verstraete - (I'll be glad to post your name and web link if I've included pix of your  project)


November 06, 2012

Happy Birthday AIM - Artisans in Miniature #44


Happy Fifth Birthday to the Artisans in Miniature (AIM) Magazine!

In issue 44 (Nov 2012)  you can win a birthday cake! I also have several new items pictured in the issue.

See the Scribed page for all the issues - (you may have to sign in to download.)


November 05, 2012

Miniatures Monday: New hanger dresses

Now that my annual Halloween in Miniature event is over (see links under header if you missed it), I thought I'd share some other things I've been doing.



I've been busy! I had fun designing and making a new hanger dress pattern.The fun part was choosing colors. I especially loved the Halloween style dress and adding the glitter accents. (Those glitter glue pens are great! No mess!)


 I have a pretty red and gold fabric I want to use for a Christmas dress next. Yes, I'm hooked! I'll show some more dresses as I get them made. Dresses will be available for order soon (after the show below) on my website.  I also am making coordinating tote bags.

You can see the dresses, books and other stuff in person -  I'll also be at the Wee C Dollhouse show this Friday and Saturday (11/9-10) Stop by if you're in the area!

October 31, 2012

2012 Halloween in Miniature Day 7 - Happy Halloween!




Well, it looks like this year’s 2012 HALLOWEEN IN MINIATURE party has come to an end, and now it’s time to go trick-or-treating.

             For fun, here’s a little poem (Poems for Free by Nicholas Gordon) to celebrate the day:




Witches, werewolves, ghosts, and ghouls
Love to frighten little fools.

I'm not frightened! No, not me!
Is that a ghost behind that tree?

(Witch by Detta's Darling Dolls - C. Verstraete  scene - see my miniature haunted house)

Wasn't this fun? Looks like everyone has gone home, but there are a few stragglers (additional pix below).

I want to again thank the talented artisans who contributed to this year's event and helped make it possible.

 A special thanks to Kat Hazelton and Victoria of DarkSquirrel Miniatures for their generosity in donating prizes. Please be sure to visit the websites of these amazing artisans and check out their creations!

* If you missed it... go to the beginning of the  2012 HALLOWEEN IN MINIATURE 
(Day 1)  - (Go back: Day 6) *


2012 Halloween in Miniature Artisans: 


  
  Kiva Atkinson, Kiva’s Miniatures
http://kivasminiatures.com/





Patty Benedict, Woopitydooart - http://woopitydooart.blogspot.com/




  Dana Burton, Dana of Miniature Art - http://www.miniatureart.com/
Mini Doll List - http://minidolllist.com/



Julie Campbell Doll Artist - http://www.juliecampbelldollartist.co.uk/



Kat Hazelton, Kat the Hat Lady - http://www.kat-the-hat-lady.com
Etsy shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/katthehatlady



Joyce McBride, miniature witches








Debbie McGrath, Debbie’s Mini Thoughts and Creations 
http://makeminemini-makeminemini.blogspot.com/








  Tracy Topps - Minis On The Edge
http://www.minisontheedge.blogspot.com




Kathy Obrenski, Wee Little West - http://www.weelittlewest.blogspot.com/







Victoria of DarkSquirrel Miniatures - http://darksquirrelminiatures.blogspot.com
Etsy shop: http://darksquirrel.etsy.com







Linda Wooten, Wooten’s Miniatureshttp://www.wootenminiatures.com



(All photos and items (c) 2012 by their creators)
(Christine Verstraete - http://canddicanine.blogspot.com


** Today's Spooky Reads:  NEETA LYFFE, ZOMBIE EXTERMINATOR & Sequel: I LEFT MY BRAINS IN SAN FRANCISCO- Karina Fabian

By the 2040s, the shambling dead have become an international problem. While governments and special interest groups vie for the most environmentally-friendly way to rid the world of zombies, a new breed has risen: The Zombie Exterminator.

 When zombie exterminator Neeta Lyffe gets sued because a zombie she set afire stumbles onto a lawyer's back porch, she needs money, fast. So she agrees to train apprentice exterminators in a reality TV show that makes Survivor look like a game of tag. But that's nothing compared to having to deal with crazy directors, bickering contestants and paparazzi. Can she keep her ratings up, her bills paid and her apprentices alive and still keep her sanity?

I LEFT MY BRAINS IN SAN FRANCISCO
Sequel to Neeta Lyffe, Zombie Exterminator

Zombie problem? Call Neeta Lyffe, Zombie Exterminator—but not this weekend.

On vacation at an exterminator’s convention, she's looking to relax, have fun, and enjoy a little romance. Too bad the zombies have a different idea. When they rise from their watery graves to take over the City by the Bay, it looks like it'll be a working vacation after all.







* Get free Halloween animations             
    --- SEE YOU NEXT YEAR!! ---


October 30, 2012

2012 Halloween in Miniature - Day 6, Hat's Off!

Welcome to Day 6 of the 2012 Halloween in Miniature party!
(Go back to Day 1 - Back: Day 5 - Next: Day 7)  

Step right up. The shop is ready... haunted? Well, no. The ghosts have been busy in other parts of the party, of course! (House by Tracy Topps (Minis on the Edge)



Today seems like a good day to stop by and see what new hats Kat the Hat Lady has available. After all, who doesn't enjoy sprucing up their wardrobe a bit, right?



Kat the Hat Lady can transform almost any fabric or material into fashionable chapeaux - be it real life or in miniature. She is actually a trained milliner and has made some of those crazy hats for the fashionable ladies going to the Royal Ascot horse races - see a story I wrote on her for a previous Halloween event.



Be it pretty, spooky or practical, Kat has probably made a suitable hat. And her brooms.... to fly for! haaa!

This is excellent news to Millicent who insists on only flying with the best! 
(Witches by Joyce McBride).


And you can't blame her for being extra careful, especially after what happened to.... Well, you know. The witches just dread mentioning her name... such a dreadful accident it was...

After that, they all have insisted on having their brooms inspected and  certified before every flight! haa!


As a miniature doll maker, Joyce McBride says she's "always been fascinated by the notion of goblins and trolls and other lesser known beings of folklore. Halloween is the perfect time to explore their stories and have some fun with it."

Joyce comes from a doll making tradition, having learned from her mother as a child. To her, the fun part is making them come alive. "Nearly all my dolls have a story. Most of the time the inspiration for a doll is the story which comes first."

"My favorite here is probably Aunt Elizbet (Pic #8). Her story: "For years she dragged Uncle Bob to all the social gatherings. He never had much to say..." (The real Elizbet was my brother-in-law's aunt who never missed a family get together or community event. She insisted her poor husband go along, even after his health began to fail.)



Joyce says, "most of the dolls pictured are 12th scale miniatures. I've included a few ghosts and other beings that go bump in the night. It wouldn't be Halloween with out them!"

(At least one thing about ghosts... they don't need to eat. haa! More for us!)



ooh.... speaking of food,, did you see Kiva Atkinson's fortune cookies? C'mon open one... what's your fortune? Hope it's a good one!



Hey, only one per person. Sorry, only the first fortune counts! Be sure to come back for the final party tomorrow!  Next: Day 7

(Christine Verstraete - http://candidcanine.blogspot.com)


* TODAY'S SPOOKY READS: LONNIE, ME AND THE HOUND OF HELL - Marian Allen  
GHOSTS ON THE SQUARE AND ELSEWHERE - Southern Indiana Writers

Short stories of animals and oddities. A man's best friend believes he's called the devil's own dog. A little girl is terrorized, with only two little mice to help her. A vampire is sent to clean up a crooked horse race. A gay cat puts his paws on the line to save a friend from aliens. Ten stories included, some never before published.

Lonnie, Me and the Hound of Hell - Balance of Power
Mr. Farrell - The Damned Place Was Full Of Crocodiles
Dog Star -A Devouring Passion
Seeking Shadow -High Stakes
Sledgehammer - Mr. Sugar vs the Martians




History and haunting seems to go hand-in-hand and Corydon,as the first state capital of Indiana, has a heaping helping of both. Ghosts: On the Square . . . and Elsewhere . . . . is a collection of ghostly tales inspired by locations around the historic town square and other locations throughout Harrison County. Ghosts and history....how can you beat that?